I was booking a flight on Swissair on the ATL-ZUR MD11 flight, and when the seat map popped up, I realized the plane had a 3-4-2 config. Is this correct? If it is, it's a pretty good solution to the double-excuse problem. Only one seat is more than 2 away from the aisle, and it's a window seat.

The MD-11 of SR have indeed a 3-4-2 seat config in economy class. This is very comfortable. At check in, many groups can be placed according to its number of pax, i.e. family with one child will be seated on the left 3-seat bank.

I would find the weight distribution factor quite odd. Passenger and seat weight is not a major part of the planes weight. Fuel by far weighs te most, with cargo usually second.
As for safety, the only thing I could reason with that is that in an evaquation one aisle wold get 5 seats worth per row and the other 4, whilst in 2-5-2 and 3-3-3 configs it would be evenly distribted, with, on average, 4.5 people per row in an aisle. But 5 on one aisle should not be a problem: look a 747s, or even MD11s in a 3-4-3 config.

I dont think that weight-distribution plays a role. When the 747s were first delivered, all airlines opted for a 3-4-2 configurations in Y class. This was only changed in the late 1970s to the now-prevalent 3-4-3 config.

Well since the coach area is separated into different parts, have the first area be 3-4-2, then the second 2-4-3 and so on..... or maybe its not that easy . Do any of you know of a 777 with this config?

Sometimes I go about in pity for myself and all the while a great wind carries me across the sky.

All of those except row 17 are blocked off as exit row seating that can only be given away by the checkin agents. Is row 17 bulkhead? how much legroom? TV viewable? How's 17B (I know it a midle seat, but is there enough bulkhead to no do an "excuse"? Also, how are the back seats, like 38/39 ABHK? I'm asking these because on the departure flight none of the seats you mentined are available. does swissair post more accurate seat maps somewhere on their website?